Please recommend me a babysitting agency in SW London!

[lilQuidditchKel]

I'm stuck without a babysitter - have tried everyone on my list and nobody can do the night we need! Help! I am resigned to signing up for an agency just so we can get someone. Can anyone help at all? I'm nervous about getting someone new my kids never saw before, even though they are really good with strangers. I just want some recommendations to help ease my fears...

I have a 2.3 DS and 1yr DD.

TIA

I run a nursery in SW London. Some of our nursery nurses do some babysitting in the evenings. All are CRB checked and experienced.

If you want to, CAT me - and I could ask one of them if they'd be able to contact/meet you if you want.

Before resorting to agencies, I'd suggest trying to find someone local, who is working in childcare - for example a nanny, nursery/pre-school worker etc.

Try searching at the NannyJob Babysitter search facility. Also try Find a Sitter. You could also look through ads on Gumtree

Once you have found a possible candidate, with luck they will suggest that they come over to meet with you and your children - I do that for every family who contacts me. Then at that meeting you can look through their portfolio of references, qualifications, First Aid, CRB check that kind of thing and get to see how they interact with your son and daughter.

Given that you don't like the idea of having someone the children have not met before, makes me think that an agency isn't going to be good for you - as an agency could send a different person each time (some will let you specify your preferred sitter). If you don't go out that often, I would have thought that finding a local person would be better than using an agency.

Ask around at toddler group, church, NCT, those kinds of places where other parents can be found - as you may find that someone else can recommend someone.

How soon are you needing someone... if you need someone for a night this coming week, then you may need to resort to an agency - as finding someone yourself could take time.
Sitters are the biggest agency I know of and they vet the people working for them (often they are childminders, nannies, nursery staff).

If you are prepared to post more details regarding your location (for example, say Richmond, rather than SW London), then you may find a mumsnetter knows of someone.

It's Twickenham (TW1)...28th June.

Thx for all the ideas Nannynick.

bubble, whereabouts are you? Close enough to me to make it worthwhile do you think?

a few people on my list are in fact nannies who sit for me in their spare time so I think that you're right, an agency may be too impersonal for us. We do out fairly often though so it's likely to be a problem again...guess I just need to expand my list!

Hello again.

We're in Richmond.

Hunting around Mumsnet, it appears that the following are in your general area.

Nannies:
nanny1974
mightymoosh

Parents with nannies:
athenenoctua
dipsymummy (if she's found someone by now, was looking in Jan 08)

Childminders:
ange22222
twickschildminder
isabellasmommy
kb100
hellybell
LucyTwickenham
bak82

Could be worth sending a CAT to some of those asking if they would consider babysitting (if a childcarer), or if their nanny, or someone they know would be interested.

Wonder what is special about Sat 28th June... surely the nannies you already use for babysitting are not all Eric Clapton fans.

I've used sitters many times

If you could tell me the time you need I may be able to help.
Let me know if you are interested so that I can send you my CV. and references.

By the way, I`m living in Battersea just behind Clapham Junction.

Regards,
Mtorun